Chapter 70: A Day Full of Surprises

“Wow~ You didn’t have to buy all this.”

“I’ll enjoy it~”

“Hey! This coffee’s pretty good.”

“Really?”

It was my first time at this café, but the company staff seemed familiar with it, like they’d been here before.

“Next time, I’ll treat you to something even better.”

“Reliable. Very reliable.”

One of the staff sister’s patted my shoulder with a satisfied smile.

“Thanks to you, I can finally say I work for an actor’s agency with pride!”

“Why? Couldn’t you say that before?”

“When you say you work for an actor’s agency, people always ask, ‘Who’s in your company? Which actor?’ It gets annoying, but now I can say it confidently.”

“I’ve only done one project so far.”

I was still just a rookie actor, too shy to even bring up popularity.

“Come on~ What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t you see that?”

She pointed to a box sitting in the corner of the office.

“Oh! I almost forgot.”

“Perfect timing, you can take it with you.”

“What’s that?”

“What else? It’s love from your fans.”

The three staff members spoke with smiles on their faces.

Fans?

Did I really have fans? 

Sure, some people asked for autographs or recognized me, but it always felt more like curiosity about a celebrity than actual fandom.

“For real?”

To think I had fans who liked me enough to send gifts to the company.

“Yup!”

“There’s letters, snacks, and stuffed toys—everything except food is packed in there.”

I rushed over and opened the box, finding it stuffed to the brim with letters.

“Wow…”

I’d only seen others receive stuff like this, never imagined it’d happen to me.

“We told them we don’t accept support like food, so they sent a ton of letters instead.”

“Can I take all of this?”

“Of course. It’s all for you.”

Maybe it was an obvious question, but the staff sister handed me the box right away.

“Wow! Thank you!”

“Hyunjae, can you carry that alone? Want me to give you a ride?”

“No, it’s fine. Why go through the trouble? I’ll just take the train.”

“Still…”

I declined Hayoon’s offer to drive me and carefully hugged the gift box.

“It’s okay! I’ll head out now!”

“Alright, take care~”

Worried it might get crushed, I kept the box on my lap the entire train ride, handling it with care.

As soon as I got home, I sat on my bed and started reading the letters one by one.

“What’re you doing, not answering when I call?”

While I was engrossed, Kyungho’s voice came as the door creaked open.

“Huh? You called?”

“Yeah, you punk. I called you three times—why didn’t you hear?”

Not hearing Kyungho meant I was really focused.

“Really? Sorry, I was caught up reading these.”

“What’s all that?”

Kyungho pointed at the letters I was reading.

“Fan letters!”

“Fan letters?”

He came into the room and picked up one of the many letters piled up.

“All of these are for you?”

“Yup! Crazy, right? So many!”

“You barely showed up in that drama…”

Kyungho, who’d watched Blue Sky Spring, had grumbled about how little screen time I got despite all the effort.

“Even small roles get noticed by those who know.”

“Geez~ So, what, are there love confessions in there or something?”

Curious, Kyungho slyly sidled up to peek at the letter I was reading.

“Wanna know?”

“Not that curious, just…”

His attempt to play it cool while clearly being curious was pretty cute.

“Can I call you oppa? They say handsome guys are all oppas… I loved you in the drama. Your smile is just…”

Kyungho’s voice got quieter as he read, giving up after barely three lines.

“Ugh, I can’t read this anymore.”

“Why~ Keep reading!”

“No way. This stuff you kids write makes my toes curl.”

I didn’t get what was so cringey, but Kyungho shook his head like he couldn’t stand it and shifted his attention to the cute trinkets in the box.

“What’re these?”

“Gifts!”

There was a dog plushie, a toy that looked like it was for Jayden, and a drawing of Donghyeok from the drama.

“You’re popular, huh.”

“It’s all thanks to the drama doing well. Probably more people like the drama’s Donghyeok than me.”

I figured fans liked my acting more than me as a person.

I hope my next project lives up to their expectations…

Until reading these letters, my only reason for acting was to surpass Han Jungwoo. 

But now, I also wanted to meet my fans’ expectations.

“It’s all the same, why split hairs…”

“By the way, why’d you call me?”

“Oh! Got caught up in weird talk and forgot. The village head stopped by earlier—said those people from before aren’t scammers. They even replaced the air purifier and air conditioner in the community center.”

As expected from a big production company, they moved fast, providing support as soon as the shoot was confirmed.

“Oh~”

“The village head said celebrities are coming to eat and sleep in our village.”

“I heard. There’s a variety show about eating and sleeping in the countryside, and this season they’re filming in our village.”

“Who watches that kind of stuff?”

As expected, rural folks all think the same.

“I thought that too, but apparently people love it.”

“Geez, they eat every day—what’s so special about eating here…”

“And I’m gonna be in it!”

I shared my variety show appearance with Kyungho.

“I had a meeting about it today.”

“Huh? Why you?”

“They were looking for a fresh image, and I caught their eye!”

“That’s something else.”

Kyungho looked at me in wonder, amazed that not only was a variety show filming in our village, but I was in it too.

“So you’re filming the drama and this?”

“Yup, but I’ll probably only pop up briefly in the variety show. They said I just need to show up to help with village tasks.”

“You’ll be rich in no time.”

It was like he was asking, “Why work so hard instead of taking it easy?”

“I’m still a rookie—I gotta hustle.”

“Anyway, the village head said when they announce the village cleanup before filming, we need to show up quick.”

“Huh?”

Why’d the conversation go there?

“Every household has to send one person, but since some folks aren’t well, you and I both have to go.”

“But variety shows are about reality…”

It’s already natural and nice—why the sudden cleanup?

“Then tell that to the village head.”

“I’ll clean, of course. I was just itching to clean.”

Knowing the passionate village head wouldn’t budge—and I’d rather clean than hear a long lecture—I gave in.

“Then clean your room with that attitude! What’s this mess?”

“What’s wrong with my room?”

It was a bit messy, but I had my own system.

“Organize your scripts properly, and what’s with the clothes tossed around like shed skin? It’s a total mess.”

“That’s Jayden’s fault.”

“Your fans would run if they saw this. Get moving!”

To escape Kyungho’s nagging, I put the letters back in the box and quickly got up.

***

A few days later, I visited the studio to prepare props for the drama shoot.

“Hyunjae, look here~ Perfect.”

Wearing a school uniform, I took photos for a student ID. 

This was my third time in a uniform, but this drama’s was the prettiest since it’s a high-teen story.

“Now change your hair and outfit for the family photo.”

“Got it!”

As I moved to change, someone burst in radiating bright energy.

“Hello~ Hello!”

The high-pitched voice brimmed with energy, naturally drawing everyone’s attention.

“Oh~ Hayoon’s here?”

“Yup! I’m here for photos too~ Oh! Hyunjae’s shooting already?”

“Hello~”

“Hyunjae~ Good to see you!”

Hayoon greeted me with sparkling eyes that seemed to say, “We made up! Accept me! Let’s be friends! I’m actually a nice person!”

“You’ve been well?”

How could I not respond to that? 

She looked so harmless now, it really felt like she’d just had a moment back then.

“Of course~ Have you eaten? Wanna grab food after this?”

Her high-pitched voice shot up even higher when she realized I was warming up to her. 

She might hit soprano at this rate.

“Haha, let’s shoot first… I’ll go change!”

“Oh, right! Where do I change?”

“Hayoon, over here.”

Following the staff’s directions, we headed to separate waiting rooms. 

Since it was just a quick prop shoot, it wrapped up after a few shutter clicks.

“All done?”

“Yup, done!”

“Great job~”

“Hyunjae, you’re finished?”

Hayoon, shooting elsewhere in the studio, rushed over when she heard I was done.

“Yup, good job, sunbae…”

As I was about to leave with a bow, Hayoon grabbed me.

“Food! Let’s eat together!”

“Huh?”

“I’m almost done too—let’s eat! My treat!”

I didn’t have other plans, but the sudden invitation made me pause, and Hayoon’s eyebrows drooped, her shoulders slumping.

“We’re shooting together, and I just want to get closer, treat you to something nice…”

She mumbled in a cute voice, and the nearby staff jumped in.

“If you don’t have plans, eat with her~”

“Yeah, she’s this sad—go eat!”

“Hyunjae, tell her to treat you to something good.”

I was just thinking it over, but the atmosphere made it feel like I’d be a villain if I refused.

“Alright, let’s eat.”

“Yay! I’ll take you to a great place. Writer, hurry!”

“Got it. I’ll wrap this up at lightning speed.”

The shutter clicks echoed through the studio even faster than before.

“Bro, you’re coming, right?”

“I’ve got something to do…”

I assumed Hayoon would join, but he had plans.

“Why… Where are you going?”

“The plumber’s coming to fix a pipe at home.”

“Should I just say we’ll eat another time?”

Eating alone with her without Hayoon felt like it’d be awkward.

“No, she’s so eager to eat with you—go. Just, uh…”

“Huh?”

He paused mid-sentence, and I waited to hear what he’d say.

“Be careful not to spark any dating rumors…”

“Bro…!”

Dating rumors? 

With her? 

She’s already with someone.

“What are you talking about? No way that’d happen.”

“Still, people might misunderstand…”

I hadn’t realized he was worrying about that. He really was a proper manager.

“Bro, that was cool. Like a manager on TV.”

“Really? They say celebrities have to watch out for this stuff.”

“But I’m totally fine, so no worries at all.”

Reassuring him there was no chance of that, I sent him off and headed to the restaurant with Hayoon, who’d finished shooting.

“Let’s eat well!”

As I picked up my spoon after a thank-you, Hayoon spoke up.

“Actually, I had something I really wanted to say to you, Hyunjae.”

“Huh? To me?”